Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC)
What is the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program?
Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) is a home-based visiting program for families. Families that qualify are paired with a public health nurse and family visitor. You pick goals you would like to focus on during the program and create a plan together. Anyone can self-refer for our services. A public health nurse will call you to talk about your needs and how we can best support you. For eligible families, this may include a referral to our home visiting program.
How the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program can support you:
- Becoming a parent and preparing for the birth of your baby.
- Taking care of your mental health and well-being.
- Infant patterns, routines, and guidance on sleep.
- Infant feeding and healthy eating for babies and toddlers.
- Building a strong and healthy relationship with your child.
- Supporting your child’s growth and development.
- Finding helpful services in your community.
Who is the program for?
HBHC is for families who are expecting a child, or parenting a baby, or a young child not enrolled in school.
What is a public health nurse (PHN)?
A PHN is Registered Nurse who works in the community, provides education on health topics, links you to other services in the community, and shares activities with you to help you understand your baby (e.g. infant cues).
What does a family visitor do?
Your family visitor supports you in the parenting role, offers advice and encouragement, shares resources and information, and shares activities to promote play and communication with your baby.
What happens during visits?
Visits are scheduled frequently (every one to three weeks) and take place in your home. This is your time to ask questions, share updates on your goals and engage in parenting activities lead by your public health nurse and/or family visitor.
Is there any cost for this program?
There is no cost involved, this is a free program.
Learn more about the HBHC program
Want to know more?
- Submit a self-referral
- What people are saying about HBHC in Durham Region
- Resources on pregnancy, infant care, mental health and more
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